Βy Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
All the big European teams completed the season in their national championships, a season which was “catastrophic” for five traditional powerhouses of the sport.
Barcelona, Panathinaikos, Maccabi, Fenerbahce, Milano won the championship in their country last year, but this year, either they didn’t reach the finals, or they didn’t even have one win.
Barcelona lost the title in Spain in 3-0 from Real. As did Panathinaikos from Olympiacos in Greece. However, there are worse… For the first time after 22 years Maccabi stayed out of the finals of the Israeli championship (they were knocked out in 3-2 wins by Hapoel Eilat). Also, Fenerbahce were knocked out by Karsiyaka in the Turkish semifinals in 3-1 wins, while last year’s Italian champions Milano did not even compete in the finals as they were knocked out by Sassari in 4-3 wins in the semifinals.